Antinuclear

This week’s nuclear and climate news in Australia

Nuclear waste dump.  It has all gone very quiet, but machinations continue, regarding the proposed site.  It is unlikely that the sound option of storing Lucas Heights nuclear waste at Lucas Heights will be chosen. Interestingly, however, this is the option suggested by the two most ardent pro nuclear publicists for Australia  Ben Heard & Barry W. Brook. (That’s part of their campaign to reassure Australian s that the nuclear industry is so benign)

A nuclear waste dump on Aboriginal land is still the Government’s  favoured idea – this would introduce the full nuclear chain to this country, and the lucrative (to some) business of importing the world’s radioactive trash.. The propaganda will be to destroy the credibility of environmental groups, while using a mix of bribery and blackmail on the Aborigines. Meanwhile the push for nuclear power is renewed – with media items like THE AUSTRALIAN’s – “Let’s go nuclear, for the reef’s sake”

Uranium.  Queensland has just lifted a 32-year ban on uranium mining. Apart from the constantly falling market price for uranium (way below production costs), Queensland faces costly and divisive problems if it goes ahead. For example, the quickest export place would be through Townsville Port. The city of Townsville, home to 190,000 people is only 50km from the mine. The port is close to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, dugong protected areas, seagrass beds, fringing coral reefs and mangrove forests.

Arrest of Australian peaceful protestor in Malaysia. Natalie Lowrey was arrested along with Malaysian protestors against the Australian company Lynas’ Rare Earths project. They were quickly released. Of course – zero mainstream media coverage of this.

Climate change above party politics. Thanks to Al Gore and Clive Palmer, Australia’s clean energy projects have been saved from the Abbott axe.  But the real significance of this important co-operation is to demonstrate that climate change is above party politics.

Also, the Labor Opposition should drop their negativity, and vote for Abbott’s Direct Action policy. That way, there is  a start to action. Without it, Australia has no climate policy. It’s just too important to mindlessly oppose Abbott on everything. And, I for one, think that The Greens should back Abbott’s inflation-based adjustments to the federal petrol tax rate, that will discourage use of greenhouse gas emitting fuel.

Renewable energy. Victorian town Yackandandah has a plan for 100% renewable energy

July 3, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina reviews | Leave a comment